Suicide Attack Hits Turkey’s Police HQ in Ankara, PKK Claims Responsibility
A suicide attacker detonated himself on Sunday outside the police headquarters in Ankara, Turkey, causing injuries to two police officers, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. The Turkish authorities have labeled the incident a terrorist attack and reported that a second assailant was neutralized. Shortly after the blast, the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) claimed responsibility in a statement released by the PKK-affiliated Firat news agency.
The PKK, designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union, stated that the attack aimed to send a warning to the Turkish government due to ongoing military operations against the group in Syria and Iraq. The timing and location were carefully selected to maximize impact.
Remarkably, the attack occurred just hours before the Turkish parliament was set to reconvene after the summer recess. The parliament building is situated approximately 300 meters from the police headquarters targeted in the attack.
Despite the incident, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan proceeded as planned to address the parliamentary assembly later on Sunday. In his speech, Erdogan condemned the attack as the culmination of terrorism and vowed to continue fighting until every last terrorist is eliminated.
The Turkish parliament is expected to discuss Sweden’s membership in NATO, following Erdogan’s commitment in July to present the accession protocol to the parliament after the recess.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg expressed solidarity with Turkey in the fight against terrorism, highlighting the organization’s support.
Ankara police took precautionary measures by conducting monitored detonations of suspicious packages to prevent further potential explosions. This marks the first attack of its kind in the Turkish capital since 2016.
Interior Minister Yerlikaya affirmed the government’s determination to continue the struggle until all terrorists are neutralized. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan suggested that the attack may have been orchestrated outside Turkey’s borders, emphasizing that the fight against terror would persist both domestically and internationally.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced the launch of a large-scale investigation into the attack, while authorities imposed a broadcast ban on videos depicting the incident.
In televised remarks, Yerlikaya urged social media users who had shared footage of the attack to delete the posts. The circulated videos depicted the assailants driving a commercial vehicle to the police headquarters.
Various government officials, as well as the leader of the main opposition party, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, condemned the attack and echoed the message that terrorist acts will never achieve their goals.
The US Embassy in Ankara issued a security alert following the attack, advising American citizens in Ankara to avoid the affected area. They condemned the terrorist attack and extended condolences to the injured, expressing solidarity with Turkey in the fight against terrorism.
The incident is a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by terrorism and the need for vigilance in combating these extremist acts. The Turkish government remains resolute in its determination to eliminate terrorism both within its borders and abroad. The international community stands united in supporting Turkey’s efforts and condemns such violent acts.
